Burma :State Counsellor concludes tour of Magway, returns to Nay Pyi Taw

State Counsellor concludes tour of Magway, returns to Nay Pyi Taw......

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited Natmauk yesterday and attended the consecration ceremony of a pagoda built by her ancestors. She also attended the handing-over ceremony of two newly built wards at Natmauk Hospital and toured the ancient town of Beikthano.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also the Chairperson of the Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races, attended the consecration ceremony of the Thitsa Aung, Myitta Aung, Pyinnya Aung pagoda inside the compound of Dipinkara Monastery in Natmauk yesterday.

Prior to the beginning of the ceremony the State Counsellor paid homage to the pagodas and donated offertories to Dipinkara Monastery patron Sayadaw State Ovadacariya Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Bhaddanta Sanda Bivamsa.

The State Counsellor also made cash donations for Dipinkara Monastery.

Next the State Counsellor poured water onto the Bodhi tree which was brought from Bodh Gaya, India by Prime Minister U Nu and planted in the monastery compound on 25 September 1954 to honor the independent architect Bogyoke Aung San.

The consecration ceremony was then held by Sanghas and Sayadaws led by Dipinkara Monastery patron Sayadaw.

Afterwards the State Counsellor and attendees took five precepts from Shwe Parami Forest Retreat Sayadaw Ashin Sandadika and listened to the recitation of parittas by the Sayadaws and Sanghas.

After the State Counsellor, Union Minister and Region Chief Minister offered offertories to the Sayadaws and Sanghas the State Counsellor and attendees listened to a sermon delivered by Dipinkara Monastery patron Sayadaw and shared merits.

The pagodas for which the consecration ceremony was conducted was built by the ancestors of Bogyoke Aung San and Bogyoke Aung San himself had acquired primary and religious education at Dipinkara Monastery for three years.

After the consecration ceremony the State Counsellor inspected Daw Khin Kyi Foundation mobile library.

From there the State Counsellor went to Natmauk People’s Hospital to attend the transfer ceremony of the renovated hospital, a new emergency ward, a new outpatient department and the unveiling of a Bogyoke Aung San Statue. The hospital was a second Myanmar-China Friendship Hospital donated by the embassy of People’s Republic of China (PRC) together with Myanmar-China Cooperation Center.

There the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Minister Dr. Myint Htwe, Magway Region Chief Minister Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Hong Liang and Myanmar-China Cooperation Center honorary chairman cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the emergency ward and outpatient department.

Following this the State Counsellor and PRC Ambassador unveiled the statue of national leader Bogyoke Aung San.

After sprinkling scented water onto the commemorative plaque of the new ward and building, the State Counsellor toured the emergency and outpatient ward while encouraging patients undertaking treatments.

Later the State Counsellor attended the handing over ceremony where she delivered a speech saying the people need to have capabilities as well as being healthy. Thus people must place emphasis on their health.

With the renovation of the hospital, it was believed that public health care service will be raised. People need to avoid action that affects their health while health care personnel provide health care services with cetana (volition). She spoke of the importance of people having good health, discipline, responsible and perseverance.

After the PRC Ambassador explained about the reason for donations made, the State Counsellor presented document of honor to PRC Ambassador for renovating the hospital and building a new emergency ward and outpatient department.

Documents related to the renovation of the hospital, construction of an emergency ward, outpatient department and Bogyoke Aung San statue were then presented to Union Minister Dr. Myint Htwe by the PRC Ambassador. Afterwards Magway Region Chief Minister presented document of honors to Myanmar-China Cooperation Center that had assisted in the construction of emergency ward and outpatient department, Art Wave Co., Ltd that was responsible for the construction, China Sinopharm International Corporation for installing medical equipment in the hospital, Fujian Nanshan Group for donating the Bogyoke Aung San statue and 1976-1982 alumni of University of Medicine 1 group for donating a water tower and spoke words of thanks.

Cash donation by the State Counsellor and Ministry of Office of the Union Government was then presented to head of township health department by the Region Government secretary.

After the ceremony State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Union Ministers, Region Chief Minister and officials took commemorative group photo with Chinese Ambassador and donors who donated for construction works in the hospital.

From the hospital the State Counsellor went to Natmauk Town General Administration Department office meeting hall and met with Region Chief Minister, region ministers and officials.

At the meeting the Region Chief Minister and region ministers submitted matters relating to electrification of villages; giving priority to resolving farm land matters; distributing required quality seeds to farmers; potential of raising goats in the region; cleaning up Shwe Settaw Pagoda festival site; constructing road, bridges, drains according to priority; work processes for conducting vocational courses; maintenance and upgrading of river water lifting works; improving the Nay Pyi Taw side of the Nay Pyi Taw-Kan Pya Road; effective and systematic usage of budgets without wastage; works to be conducted by Region government and works to be conducted by the Union government. The State Counsellor explained on how immediate works and works to be conducted in the long run will be handled and provided guidance and instructions.

After the meeting the State Counsellor visited Bogyoke Aung San Home Museum and signed the visitors’ book.

Later, the State Counsellor and party left Natmauk by helicopters to ancient city Beikthano, a World Heritage site in Taungdwingyi Township where Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Kyi Min explained about the heritage site, excavation conducted and excavated ancient artifacts and objects.

The State Counsellor toured the Beikthano cultural museum, flew over and inspected the heritage site by helicopters and then flew to Nay Pyi Taw in the afternoon.